The very illustrious and affable D.Y. Chandrachud has retired after ably steering the scales of justice for two years as the 50th Chief Justice of India. Prior to that he was Judge of India’s highest Court for over six eventful years.
Greg Olsen had very aptly said ‘Change happens through example and not through just talking about it’. And this is exactly what D.Y. Chandrachud did by ushering a lot of progressive change in the manner and mechanism of dispensation of Justice not only in the Supreme Court but also in the High Courts across India.
While he was Justice of the Bombay High Court from 2000 to 2013 it was extremely inspiring to appear before him whenever he presided over the Bench of the High Court at Goa. He was outspoken, versatile, candid as ever but always with a sense of humour. Justice Chandrachud had a razor-sharp mind and paid attention to every minute detail. In 1980 as a College student it was my rare privilege to appear in the Supreme Court before his Father the then 16th Chief Justice of India Y.V. Chandrachud in a petition I had filed in public interest.
Being a Judge is no easy task. As Martin Luther King famously said, ‘There comes a time when one must take a position that is neither safe nor politic nor popular, but he must take it because conscience tells him it is right’. And the books of history will record that the Chandrachuds gave their best.
Would it be too much to expect that the eminent calm and composed jurist D.Y. Chandrachud be a bench mark and that every Judge globally aspires to attain his level of performance, integrity and competence. Let us hope and be optimistic that the Judiciary worldwide remains a pillar of hope to ensure that Good Governance and the Rule of Law prevails.
Aires Rodrigues
London
